Which class of antiviral drugs is specifically used to treat Hepatitis B?

Nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are specifically utilized to treat Hepatitis B due to their mechanism of action, which involves inhibiting the reverse transcriptase enzyme crucial for the replication of the Hepatitis B virus. This class of antiviral therapy effectively reduces the viral load, helps in the recovery of liver function, and can also play a role in preventing the progression of liver disease.

Hepatitis B is a DNA virus that relies on reverse transcription for its replication, positioning NRTIs as a targeted treatment choice. By interfering with the viral replication process at this critical enzymatic step, NRTIs can significantly diminish the overall activity of the virus in infected individuals.

In contrast, the other classes of antiviral drugs listed do not specifically target Hepatitis B virus replication. Protease inhibitors primarily target the protease enzymes of HIV, NNRTIs also focus on HIV reverse transcriptase but in a different manner, and integrase inhibitors are designed to prevent the integration of viral DNA into the host genome, specifically for HIV treatment. Therefore, the use of NRTIs is particularly advantageous and effective for managing Hepatitis B infections.